Department of Civil Engineering
University Institute of Technology (UIT)
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla

E-mail: mahesh3.ce@gmail.com, msharma@hpuniv.ac.in

Google Scholar Link: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=U4DGeFgAAAAJ&hl=en

Area of Specialization:  Civil Engineering 

Areas of Research: Geotechnical Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, Soil-Structure Interaction; Slope Stability Analysis; Landslides; Constitutive Modeling; Reinforced Retaining Structures, Sustainable Building Materials, Waste utilization, Finite Element Modeling.

 

Dr. Mahesh Sharma is presently serving as Assistant Professor and In-charge/Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, UIT, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla since 2021. He is also serving as Deputy Director of the Himalayan Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience (HIM-DR³), Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. HIM-DR³ is the designated nodal centre for research and development activities in the field of disaster risk reduction and resilience for the State of Himachal Pradesh.

Prior to joining Himachal Pradesh University, Dr. Sharma worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California, Davis, USA. He also served as a Scientist (T) at the CSIR–Central Building Research Institute (CSIR-CBRI), Roorkee, a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. CSIR is one of the largest publicly funded research and development organisations in India. Dr. Sharma also pursued his Ph.D. in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering at CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee. He is additionally associated with the University of Padova, Italy, as Visiting Researcher.

Dr. Sharma has handled more than 20 research and development, consultancy, and industry-sponsored projects in the areas of geotechnical engineering, landslides, earthquake engineering, disaster mitigation, infrastructure safety, and building engineering. He has delivered more than 50 invited and expert lectures at various academic, research, professional, and government institutions. He has filed two patents and published more than 50 research papers in reputed SCI-indexed, international, and national journals and conference proceedings. His research publications have received 326 citations, with an h-index of 8.

His major research interests include Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, hydrodynamic modelling, flash-flood risk assessment and reduction, landslide hazard assessment, slope stabilisation, sustainable construction techniques, bio-geotechnics, disaster mitigation, ground improvement, foundation engineering, and constitutive and numerical modelling of soil, foundations, slopes, and structures.

He is serving as an Expert Member representing the National Disaster Management Authority for Post-Disaster Needs Assessment in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra. He is also an Expert Member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Fund. He has served, or is presently serving, as an expert member of several institutional, governmental, and technical committees, including the Project Review Committee for the Software Technology Parks of India, Mehli, Shimla project under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India; the Expert Committee of the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission, Government of Himachal Pradesh; the Disaster Studies Cell, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla; and the Expert Committee for National Assessment and Accreditation Council-related activities of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He is also associated as an expert member with various technical, research, consultancy, infrastructure-development, and disaster-management committees.

He is actively working with the National Highways Authority of India under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India; the National Disaster Management Authority; the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority; the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department; the Central Public Works Department; and other government and technical organisations. His research and consultancy activities include landslide hazard and vulnerability assessment, geotechnical investigations, infrastructure-risk assessment, disaster-resilient engineering, mitigation of landslide-affected infrastructure in the Himalayan region, structural and foundation engineering, and the preparation and technical review of Detailed Project Reports.

His key scientific and technical contributions are in the field of disaster risk reduction and resilience, with particular emphasis on cloudburst-related studies, flash-flood assessment and hydrodynamic modelling, landslide-hazard assessment, geotechnical investigations, infrastructure resilience, post-disaster assessment, and the development of engineering and nature-based mitigation measures for vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure in the Himalayan region.

1.      Sharma, M., Mandal, S, and Awasthi, S. (2026). Assessment of Cloudburst-Induced Flash Flooding Event in Thunag Village, Mandi District, Himachal Pradesh. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, published by Taylor & Francis, UK Impact Factor of 5.

2.      Sharma, M., Mandal, S., Awasthi, S., et al. (2026). Hydro-meteorological and infrastructural damage analysis of the April 2025 Ramban cloudburst event in the north-western Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Elsevier.

3.      Rajni, C Prakash, M Sharma, S Awasthi, V Thakur (2026) Assessing Climate-driven Landslide Susceptibility in the Northwestern Himalaya Using Random Forest and CMIP6 Precipitation Projections, Earth Systems and Environment, Springer Nature

4.      Garba L, Bhardwaj A, Sharma, M., Musa A,A, (2024) Synergistic Effects of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash on the Physicochemical Properties of Recycled Pavement Subgrade: A Microscopic Study. Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems.

5.      Garba L, Bhardwaj A, Sharma, M., Musa A,A, Garko M,N, (2025) Sugarcane Bagasse as an Alternative Material for the Reuse of Scarified Pavement Material. Environmental Research and Technology.

6.      Sharma M., Das S., Pain A., Kanungo D.P., Sarkar S. (2024). Preliminary assessment of the Shiv Bawdi landslide in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Landslides (Springer), 21(7), 1591–1601.

7.      Sharma, M., Das, S., Thakur, B.R., Ankush & Sharma, A. (2024). Recent rainfall-induced landslide disaster in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Landslides (Springer), 21(8), 2045–2050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-024-02285-X

8.      Verma P., Kumar R., Mukherjee S., Sharma M. (2024). Sustainable Self-Compacting Concrete with Marble Slurry and Fly Ash: Statistical Modeling, Microstructural Investigations, and Rheological Characterization. Journal of Building Engineering (Elsevier), 94, 109785.

9.      Verma, P., Mukherjee S., Sharma, M. (2024) Statistical optimisation, microstructure and rheological analysis of self-compacting concrete with marble slurry and fly ash, Journal of Building Engineering, Elsevier.

10.  Annapareddy V.S.R., Sharma M., Godas S., et al. (2024). Influence of Surcharge and Foundation Soil on the Seismic Stability of Helical Soil-Nail Walls. Indian Geotechnical Journal.

11.  Thakur, A., Kumar, R., Sharma, M., Agarwal, R., Rai, D. (2024) Enhancement of Concrete Performance and Sustainability through Partial Cement Replacement with Biochar: An Experimental Study, Journal of Building Engineering, Elsevier.

12.  Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2023) Efficient surrogate model based probabilistic analysis of helical soil nailed wall under seismic conditions. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Taylor and Francis (European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering).

13.  Kumar, R., Lakhani, Rajni., Singh, B., Sharma, M., Negi, SK (2021) Agro-industrial Wastes Incorporated Cement Stabilized Mud Composites for Roof and Wall Assembly in Energy Efficient Building Envelope, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Springer

14.  Sharma M, Choudhury D, Samanta M, Sarkar S, Ramakrishna AVS (2019) Analysis of helical soil nailed walls under static and seismic conditions, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, NRC Canada, doi: 10.1139/cgj-2019-0240 (In Press). (IF: 2.565).

15.  Sharma M, Samanta M, Punetha P (2019) Experimental Investigation and Modeling of Pullout Response of Soil Nails in Cohesionless Medium. International Journal of Geomechanics, ASCE 19(3): 04019002-16. 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001372 (IF: 2.332).

16.  Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2018) A comparative laboratory study on interface shear behaviour of soil nails, International Journal of Physical modelling in Geotechnics, ICE. DOI: 10.1680/jphmg.18.00031

17.  Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2018) Novel Laboratory Pullout Device for Conventional and Helical Soil Nails. Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM DOI: 10.1520/GTJ20170319 (IF: 1.279). (IF: 1.279).

18.  Samanta M, Punetha P, Dwivedi A, Sarkar S, Sharma M (2018) Slope Stability Assessment and Design of Remedial Measures for Tungnath Temple at Uttrakhand, India: A Case Study. Natural Hazards, Springer (in Press) DOI: 10.1007/s11069-018-3538-y (IF: 1.901).

19.  Samanta M, Punetha P, Sharma M (2018) Influence of surface texture on sand-steel interface strength response. Geotechnique Letters, ICE 8(1): 1-25 DOI: 10.1680/jgele.17.00135 (IF: 1.641).

20.  Samanta M, Punetha P, Sharma M (2018) Influence of roughness on interface shear strength of sand construction materials. Geomechanics and Engineering, Techno Press. 14(4): 387-398 DOI: 10.12989/gae.2018.14.4.000 (IF: 1.818)

21.  Sarkar S, Pandit K, Sharma M, Pipal A (2018) Risk assessment and stability analysis of a recent landslide at Vishnuprayag on Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway (NH-58). Current Science, INAE. DOI: 10.18520/cs/v114/i07/1527-1533 (IF: 0.86).

22.  Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2017) A laboratory study on pullout capacity of helical soil nail in cohesionless soil. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, NRC Canada. 54(10): 1482-1495 DOI: 10.1139/cgj2016-0243 (IF: 2.565).

Additional Journal Publications

1.       Sharma M, Choudhury D, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2021) Analysis of helical anchored walls using pseudo-static approach. Himalayan Journal of Engineering Sciences, Himachal Pradesh University

2.      Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2021) Efficient surrogate model based probabilistic analysis of helical soil nailed wall under seismic conditions. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Taylor and Francis

1.      Samanta M, Sharma M, Sarkar S (2016) A Pullout Device for Soil Nails & Anchors. (App. No. 201611022643/0049NF2016; Indian Patent Office).

2.      Samanta M, Dwivedi A, Puneta P, Sharma M, Sarkar S (2018) An end openable helical anchor and the mechanism thereof. (Ref. No. 0158NF2018; Indian Patent Office).

1.      Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2019) Soil nailing an innovative slope stabilization measure. In Edited Book entitled Landslides: Theory, Practice and Modelling. Edited by Pradhan SP, Vishal V, Singh TN Springer India. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77377-3_9.

2.      Pandit K, Sarkar S, Sharma M (2019) Optimization techniques in slope stability analysis methods. In Edited Book entitled Landslides: Theory, Practice and Modelling. Edited by Pradhan SP, Vishal V, Singh TN. Springer India. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77377-3_11.

1.       Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2021). Probabilistic stability analysis of helical soil nailed wall using the Monte-Carlo Simulation. In: Proceedings of Virtual Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (VCDRR 2021), 15^th – 20^th March 2021 (In Press). Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Scopus Indexed, Springer.

2.       Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2023). Reliability based analysis of novel helical soil nailed wall using the Monte-Carlo Simulation. Abstract accepted in: International Conference on Geosynthetics (ICG), Roma, 17^th – 21^th September 2023.

3.       Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2021). An analytical approach to probabilistically analyse the helical soil nailed walls with surcharge load. Abstract submitted in: Civil Engineering Conference in the Asian Region (CECAR9).

4.       Ramakrishna AVS, Sharma M, Scheuermann A (2021) Stability of waterfront retaining wall considering the combined effect of tsunami and earthquake forces (Accepted).

5.       Kumar, R., Lakhani, Rajni., Singh, B., Sharma, M, Physico-mechanical and thermal performances of newly developed lightweight mud phuska composite for roof treatment, International Conference on Reuse and Recycling of Materials and their products (ICRM – 2020)

6.       Samanta M, Sharma M, Dwivedi A (2019) Experimental Study on Dynamic Response of Soil Geosynthetic Interfaces. GEOMEAST 2019, Cairo, Egypt (Accepted).

7.       Sarkar S, Samanta M, Sharma M, Dwivedi A (2018) Slope Stability Analysis and Suggestive Measures for an Active Landslide in Indian Himalaya: Proceedings of the 2nd GeoMEast International Congress and Exhibition on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures, Egypt 2018.

8.      Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2017) An Innovative Pullout System for Soil Nails and Anchors. In. proceeding of Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC 2017). IIT Guwahati India 15-17th December 2017.

9.      Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2017) A laboratory study on inclined pullout capacity of helical anchors in sand medium. Proceeding of Sixth Indian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (6IYGEC2017). NIT Trichy India 10-11March 2017.

10.  Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S, Punetha P (2017) Pullout capacity of driven soil nails in cohesionless soil and its constitutive modelling. National proceeding of Conference on Numerical Modelling in Geomechanics. IIT Roorkee India 3-5 March 2017.

11.  Pandit K, Sarkar S, Samanta M, Sharma M (2016) Stability analysis and design of slope reinforcement techniques for a Himalayan landslide. International Conference on Recent Advances in Rock Engineering (RARE 2016). Bengaluru India 16-18 November 2016. 10.2991/rare-16.2016.16

12.  Samanta M, Dwivedi A, Mohanty P, Pain A, Sharma M (2016) Condition assessment of pile foundation through low strain pile integrity test: A case study. In. proceeding of Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC 2016). IIT Madras India 15-17 December 2016.

13.  Samanta M, Dwivedi A, Mohanty P, Pain A, Sharma M (2016) Investigation on causes of failure and design of remedial measures of pile foundation supporting transmission line tower. In. proceeding of International Conference on Forensic Geotechnical Engineering IISC Bengaluru India, 8-10 December 2016.

14.  Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2016) A study on comparison of pullout behavior of helical and conventional driven soil nails. In. proceeding of International Geotechnical Engineering Conference on Sustainability in Geotechnical Engineering Practices and Related Urban Issues. Mumbai India

1.       Diamond Jubilee Research Paper award-2018 from CSIR-Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) for the paper “Slope Stability Assessment and Design of Remedial Measures for Tungnath Temple at Uttrakhand, India: A Case Study. Natural Hazards, Springer. Presented in the 72^nd Foundation day of CBRI at CBRI, Roorkee, India, 12^th February 2019.

2.       IGS – YGE Best Paper Biennial Award – 2018 from Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) for the paper “A laboratory study on inclined pullout capacity of helical anchors in the sand medium”. Presented in Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC-2018) at IISc, Bangalore India, 13-15^th December 2018.

3.       Outstanding and best paper award from Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) for the paper “A laboratory study on inclined pullout capacity of helical anchors in the sand medium”. Presented in a Sixth Indian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (6IYGEC2017) NIT Trichy, India, 10-11^th March 2017.  

4.       Best paper award from ISSMGE and IGS for the paper “A study on the comparison of pullout behaviour of helical and conventional driven soil nails” presented in an International Geotechnical Engineering Conference on Sustainability in Geotechnical Engineering Practices and Related Urban Issues, on 23-24 September 2016.

5.       Best poster paper award from CSIR- Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee for the poster “Retractable Petals Building Envelope” in National Science Day Poster Competition on 28^th February 2014.

6.       Editor’s Choice: Experimental Investigation and Modeling of Pullout Response of Soil Nails in Cohesionless Medium. International Journal of Geomechanics, ASCE 19(3): 04019002-16. 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.19435622.0001372 (IF: 2.332).

1.       Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2021). Probabilistic stability analysis of helical soil nailed wall using the Monte-Carlo Simulation. In: Proceedings of Virtual Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (VCDRR 2021), 15^th – 20^th March 2021 (In Press). Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Scopus Indexed, Springer.

2.       Agarwal, E., Sharma, M., & Pain, A. (2021). An analytical approach to probabilistically analyse the helical soil nailed walls with surcharge load. Abstract submitted in: Civil Engineering Conference in the Asian Region (CECAR9).

3.       Kumar, R., Lakhani, Rajni., Singh, B., Sharma, M (2020),  Physico-mechanical and thermal performances of newly developed lightweight mud phuska composite for roof treatment, International Conference on Reuse and Recycling of Materials and their products

4.       Sarkar S, Samanta M, Sharma M, Dwivedi A (2018) Slope Stability Analysis and Suggestive Measures for an Active Landslide in Indian Himalaya: Proceedings of the 2nd GeoMEast International Congress and Exhibition on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures, Egypt 2018.

5.       Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2017) An Innovative Pullout System for Soil Nails and Anchors. In. proceeding of Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC 2017). IIT Guwahati India 15-17th December 2017.

6.       Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S (2017) A laboratory study on inclined pullout capacity of helical anchors in sand medium. Proceeding of Sixth Indian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (6IYGEC2017). NIT Trichy India 10-11March 2017.

7.       Sharma M, Samanta M, Sarkar S, Punetha P (2017) Pullout capacity of driven soil nails in cohesionless soil and its constitutive modelling.  National proceeding of Conference on Numerical Modelling in Geomechanics. IIT Roorkee India 3-5 March 2017.

8.       Pandit K, Sarkar S, Samanta M, Sharma M (2016) Stability analysis and design of slope reinforcement techniques for a Himalayan landslide. International Conference on Recent Advances in Rock Engineering (RARE 2016). Bengaluru India 16-18 November 2016. 10.2991/rare-16.2016.16

9.       Samanta M, Dwivedi A, Mohanty P, Pain A, Sharma M (2016) Condition assessment of pile foundation through low strain pile integrity test: A case study. In. proceeding of Indian Geotechnical Conference (IGC 2016). IIT Madras India 15-17 December 2016.

10.    Samanta M, Dwivedi A, Mohanty P, Pain A, Sharma M (2016) Investigation on causes of failure and design of remedial measures of pile foundation supporting transmission line tower. In. proceeding of International Conference on Forensic Geotechnical Engineering IISC Bengaluru India, 8-10 December 2016.

·          International Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engg., ASCE

·          Soils and Foundations Journal,  Elsevier

·          International Journal of Geomechanics, ASCE

·          International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, ICE

·          Marine Georesources & Geotechnology - Taylor & Francis

·          Applied Ocean Research, Elsevier

·          Geomechanics and Geoengineering: An International Journal, Taylor & Francis

·          International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, Springer

·          Advances in Civil Engineering, Hindawi

Selected media coverage relating to the academic, research, technical and professional contributions of Dr. Mahesh Sharma is provided below:

1. Government of Himachal Pradesh – Official Press Release

http://himachalpr.gov.in/OnePressRelease.aspx?Language=1&ID=46836

2. Hindustan Times – HPU to Use AI to Develop Early Warning System for Natural Disasters in Himalayan Regions

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/hpu-to-use-ai-to-develop-early-warning-system-for-natural-disaster-in-himalayan-regions-101757530459893.html

3. The Tribune – CM Sukhu Calls for Scientific Study on Recurring Cloudburst Incidents in Himachal

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/cm-sukhu-calls-for-scientific-study-on-recurring-cloudburst-incidents-in-himachal/

4. Hindustan Times – HPU’s Mahesh Sharma in NDMA Expert Committee for Uttarakhand

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/hpus-mahesh-sharma-in-ndma-expert-committee-for-uttarakhand-101758190710074.html

5. The Indian Express – Scientists Find Reason Behind Shiv Bawdi Landslide in Shimla

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/scientists-finds-reason-shiv-bawdi-landslide-shimla-9230285/